A guide to the principal gold and silver coins of the ancients ...

B.C. 700-480. la
I. c.
Plates 7-9.
Plate?. 1. Etruria. Populonia. JR. Obv. Gorgon-head, beneath which
X (mark of value). Bev. Plain. Wt. 129'5 grs.
This is one of the most ancient coins of Etruria, although
possibly not earlier than 480. Both the weight-standard
and the type of this Etruscan money seems to be derived
from Euboea (cf. I. B. 24).
2. Campania. CumaB. JR. 06y. Head of nymph. i20U. KYME.
Mussel with marine plant. Wt. 117*2 grs.
The coins of the Campanian cities are from the earliest
times struck on both sides.
3. Calabria. Tarentum. JR. C>6u. TAR A ^ (retrograde). Apollo
Hyacinthius kneeling, holding lyre and flowei'. Eev. Same type
incuse. Wt. 111"6 grs.
4. Tarentum. JR. Obv. Same inscription. Taras riding on dolphin ;
beneath, scallop shell. Hoc. Same type incuse. Wt, 123 grs.
The oldest coins of Tarentum, with those of many of
the neighbouring Greek cities of Southern Italy, are
distinguished from all other early Greek coins by their
having, instead of the plain incuse square, an incuse type
on the reverse. All the coins of this style are probably
anterior to B.C. 500.
5. Tarentum. JR. Obv. Similar. Bev. Wheel. Wt. 122 grs.
6. Tarentum. JR. Obv. TARA^. Taras riding on dolphin, holding
cuttle-fish. i^ev. TAR A ^ (retrograde). Sea-horse ; beneath, scallop
shell. Wt. 124-5 grs.
7. Tarentum. . JR.
.
Obv.
TARA.^ . Taras seated on dolphin ; beneath,
scallop shell. Rev. Head of Taras, of archaic style, wearing neck-
lace. Wt. 122 grs.
We learn from Aristotle that the youthful figure seated
on the dolphin, which is the most common type on the
coins of this city, was intended for Taras, a son of
Poseidon, from whom the city is said to have derived its
name.
8. Lucania. LaiiS. JR. Obv.TAFi. Man-headed bull, looking
back. Rev. NOM. Same type incuse. Wt. 120-9 gx-s.
The inscription on this coin (AaFtvos) is begun on the
obverse and completed on the reverse.